Moistener



March i, i929., D. P. FLETCHER MOISTENER Filed March 17, 1927 Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

y DOUGLAS P. FLETCHER, DALLAS, TEXAS.

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Application led March 17, 1927. Serial No. 175,979.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in moisteners. l

'The principal object of the invention 1s to provide a moistener including a meistening element and particularly arranged to effectively moisten a small sheet, such as a postage stamp, when the same is passed over the moistening element, and to permit the said small sheet to be easily and readily manipulated during the moistening operation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a guard of a particular formation arranged to cause a sheet which is passed thereunder to be brought into engagement withv the moistening element and to enable the operator to easily handle said sheet and grasp` the same.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, t0- gether with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readilyv understood from a reading of the following speciication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side'elevation of a moistener constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, a

portion of the wick holder being broken away, 1

Fig. 3 is a partial "longitudinal I`vertical sectional view and showing the wick holder 4swung outward for the purpose of cleaning,

Fig. 4: is a plan view illustrating the improved guard,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing another form in whichv the invention may be carried out and taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same, a portion of the tray being broken away Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation of the same,

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of another form in which the invention may be carried out,

Fig. 9 is a front elevation. of the same, andV Fig. 10 is a partial side elevation of the form shown in Fig. 8.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a housing which may be of any suitable shape and is preferably constructed of metal lending itself to the production of this particular device. In the bottom portion of the housing is formed a tray 11 in which the water or other fluid is placed. The housing has a front wall 12 extending about half way its height and this forms the limit for the liquid level in the tray.

Awick holder 13 ish'nged to the upper edge of the wall 1-2 at 14 and has a rectangular guide 15 forming a part thereof. When swung to its operative position, the holder rests against a pair of lugs 16 -bent inwardly fromthe side walls of the housing. The guide has a pairof vertical slots 17 through which the wick 18 is exposed. The wick extends above the top edge of the guide andhangs down into the tray 11, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The wick supplies the liquid atits upper end vby capillary attraction.

It will be seen that the wick holder may be swung outward, as is shown in Fig. '3., for cleaning the upper end o f the wick when thc same becomes coated with glue', or any objectionable substance. A fork member 19 is provided with prongs 20 and these prongs may be engaged with the wick 18 through the slots 17 to feed the wick through the holder when it becomes worn. When the holder 13 is swung inwardly, the shank 21 of thefork member is slid down through a loop 22 on the front wall 12 so that the prongs 20 engage the face of the holder and hold it in'position as is illustrated.

Avery important feature of the invention is the guard and feed structure which overhangs the wick 18. The top wall 10 of the housing terminates short of the front end so as to permit thel wick 18 to project upwardly from the housing. A portion of the said top vwall is bent upward at a slight.

angle to form a feed lip and support 23. The wick extends above this lip but is contiguous to the edge thereof. A guard 24 has a depending side bracket 25, which may be secured to the side ofthe housing in any suitable manner; either by being made integral therewith, as is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,as well as in 8, 9 and 10, or said bracket may be provided with vertical slots 26 receiving studs 27 carriedl by the side of the housing and fastened by wing nuts 28 engaging on said studs. Where the guard is rigidly attached to the housing, it is spaced at a fixed distance above the lip; but where it is adjustably mounted, this distance may, of course, be varied.

The guard has itsfeeding edge 29 cut on a reverse curve receding from the bracket and f nation in harmony'with the lip 23. The

gradually reducing the width of said guard. Near its free end the said reverse curve is merged into a concaved ormatin whereby the guard is provided with a restricted neck at this point.v T he guard is rounded at its freeend 31 so 'as not to injure the hand of the user.

It will be seen that the wick 18 engages the under side of the guard and also that said'guard is disposed at an upward inclineck 30 is quite narrow and exposes a portion of the wick. To'nuoisten a: postagel is similar to the housing 10,ex`cept for the front wall and wick holder parts. The tray 11 may be filled lwith liquid'and has a holder -32 in its bottom provided with a clamp 33 for frictiona'lly receiving ,the head 34 of a brush 35. .The brush projects through the top of the housing contacts with the underside of the guard 25. The holder 32 has a fulcruni boss 36 and a rocking finger 37 which is slotted to receive a f post 38 fastened to the bottom tray. A wing nut 39 threaded on the upper end of the post bears on the linger 3'4" and by screwing said nut downward the finger is depressed causing the holder to rock, thus adjusting the brush 35 upwardly.

It is obvious that the invention may be carried out in various ways, particularly as to the moistening element, and in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I have shown another form having a housing 10b, which has the saine top wall I0', but the lip 23 is shortened. The guard 24 overhangs the upper end of an endless belt d0, formed of elt or other suitable material. The lower end of the belt is mounted on a roller 41 journalled in the tray 11 of the housing, while the upper end is mounted on a rolier 42 and contacts with the underside of the guard. The roller 42 is fastened en a shaft 43 journaled in the sides of the housing and having a thumb wheel le on one end, whereby the belt may be adjusted to bring a clean surface under the guard when desired.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications by the housing contiguous to t e upper end of said moistening element, said guard having a transversely reduced portion permitting a small sheet to be grasped on both sides of the guard by the fingers and thumb of the operator.

2. In a moistener, a housing, a moistening element in the housing, and a guard carried by the housing contiguous to the upper end of said moistening element, said guard having a materially reduced neck and being inclined upwardly from its feed side.

In a moistencr, a housing, an inclined feed lip at the top of the housing, a inoistening element contiguous to the lip and eX- tending above said lip, and a guard mounted on the housing and overhanging the moistening element, said guard having a transverse! y reduced portion permitting a small` sheet to be grasped on both sides of the guard by the fingers and thumb of the operator.

4. In a moistener, a housing, an inclined feed lip,at the top of the housing, a moistening element contiguous to the lip and ein tending above said lip, and a guard mounted on the housing and overhanging the moistening element, said guard having a materiaily reduced neck and being inclined upwardly from its feed side in harmony with h llt.

5. In a moistening device, a housing, an inciined feed lip at the front end of the housing, a moistening element contiguous to the lip and extending above the said lip, mea-ns for adjusting said element, and an inclined guard overhanging the upper end of the moistening element and having a reduced neck.

6. In a moistening device, a housing, an inclined feed lip at the front end of the housing, a moistening element contiguous to the 1i and extending above the said lip, means or adjusting said element, an inclined guard overhanging the upper end of the moistening element and having a reduced neck, and a bracket carrying said guard and adjustably mounted on the housing.

In testimony whereof I aiiix mv signature.

DOUGLAS P. lFLETonne. 

